Herschelle Gibbs

April 17th, 2008

Herschelle Herman Gibbs is a South African cricketer, more specifically a batsman.

At backward point, he is considered by some to be the next Jonty Rhodes in his ability to hit the stumps, in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the eighth highest number of run-outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman. Gibbs is said to rarely practice in the nets before a match. It is said he prefers to play on instinct in this case.

Herschelle Gibbs is remembered for dropping a comparatively simple catch off Australia’s Steve Waugh during the 1999 World Cup, one which would cost South Africa dearly. Steve Waugh’s famous comment, “You have just dropped the World Cup, son!”, is said to have occurred at this point.

Gibbs became the first player to hit six sixes in one over in One Day International cricket, doing so against the Netherlands in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

On the tour of the West Indies in 2001, along with several teammates he was found guilty of smoking marijuana.

Gibbs was involved in the match fixing affair with former captain Hansie Cronje, who offered him $15,000 to score “less than 20″ in the 3rd One-day International of a series. He tearfully claimed to the King Commission of inquiry into corruption in South African cricket that he didn’t follow through on his side of the bargain, in fact scoring a fine 74. As a result he was banned for only six months. He has since repeatedly refused to tour India fearing arrest and has refused to even speak to Indian Police over the matter. However, Gibbs was named in the South African squad to tour India in the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, and as a result, he had to meet with Indian Police over his involvement in the match-fixing scandal.